“History admits no rules – only outcomes. What precipitates outcomes? Vicious acts and virtuous acts. What precipitates acts? Belief.
“My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?”
David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.
Two stories, happening right at the same moment, in two different parts of the world.
Life and Death, Heroes and Villains, Good an Evil… Virtuous and vicious acts…
Two human stories where animals bring out something that neither human knew existed within him.
Egypt, as a part of “training” novice soldiers are submitted to a series of humiliating experiences, one of them, involves a family of stray dogs picked up from the nearby fields. A mother dog, and her puppies, beaten and drowen by merciless hands, bones broken, the puppies lie, inert, life has left them. Their bodies, violated and displayed for the amusement of soldiers and officers alike. Four lives taken in the cruelest way possible for the sole purpose of breaking a young man’s spirit.
Humiliated and broken the soldiers yield and pose for the camera, the price to pay to be accepted as a man in a brutal society.
At precisely the same time, in another army, another world… a young soldier finds a helpless blind kitty hiding in the bushes. Without thinking, he picks him up and hides him inside his jacket. He knows animals are not allowed in the barracks, his is a regiment deployed in heavily militarized area, where conflict is always possible. Other soldiers tell him to leave the kitty out in the fields. To him, that is not an option.
And so, in a move that reminds us of Roberto Benigni’s “Life is Beautiful”, the soldier hides the kitty within his personal belongings and with the complicity of his friends, keeps him alive for weeks. The kitty, named Atlas, has never seen the soldier, but he feels his presence, his touch, his scent. Atlas hides inside the bed of the man that provides him with warmth and a safe, although precarious place to live.
The soldier’s deployment ends, and he must return home, but he won’t leave Atlas behind, because that’s not the way he’s made, because he is not a coward.
Tomorrow Atlas will leave the army barracks camouflaged within the soldier’s belongings. Together, they’ll fly back to Turkey, to the soldier’s city. When they land, and after clearing airport security, Atlas and his Savior will find the beautiful and smiley face of one of our members, From that moment on we will assume all responsibility and fly back to Istanbul with Atlas for treatment.
Atlas eyes have been ravaged by the same condition that nearly took away Samson’s life and sight, Herpes virus. We hope that, like in Samson’s case, we will manage to save at least one of his eyes, but if that’s not possible, he will live and will be adopted by one of our members as a blind kitty.
Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past & present. And by each crime & every kindness, we birth our future.
We can’t do this alone, like all our rescues, this too must be a community effort.. Become a part of the human chain that will save the life of this beautiful kitty… Atlas…
Many many thanks
Viktor
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Update December 9.
Since he was rescued Atlas has gone through a real rollercoaster, full of fun and adventure. For the first time since he lost his family he made new friends, learned how to play and be part of a pack. He has also been on another flight, and he has joined me in my home, where he has met the notorious Monkey and Samson… here are some pictures of his adventures
… so he is well… rocking!
And here is something that fills up with hope… Atlas can see the light!!!!
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Update 9 of July… 2014…
It´s been one and a half years … Atlas has been living with me, he has a wonderful life. He´s the King of the House…
Look at him now… Remember how he was? Incredible atlas..
It´s time for Atlas to leave the home where he has grown up until now and join a final family to call his own… forever.
If you are that family please write to me on viktor@myletsadopt.com and convince me Atlas will have a great life with you!
Help us continue rescuing cats in Atlas condition.. You know what we do, you know how we do it… join us, help us continue saving lives…
Bless the soldier for what he has done. As for the other situation, well, I’m not a Christian, I believe in Karma and it can be as bad as any hell. Thank you Viktor for doing what you do. As I said, I believe in Karma and it can also be as good as any heaven. You, this brave soldier and the many other people who do what you do for the voiceless animals we love so much are held in so many of our hearts and thoughts. You really set an example for those of us trying to help these poor animals. So many of us see a hopeless case and, as most people do, we think that the animal should be put down because it will never have a good quality life. Thanks for showing us that nothing is impossible. <3
I don’t see that those soldiers look so humiliated and broken. They look rather unconcerned to me. That photo speaks volumes.
Blessings to the soldier that saved kitty Atlas. You are a true hero and an awesome man.
Vicktoe many times you questioins Gods exsistance youso so much , but you faith is strong and this I know God has given to yu a gift and you Vicktor you are specialo and an angel on earth, Victor may some day will you consider me ato be a mom in memorie of my son Matthew
O know I live far away but perhaps some day I can adopt one of the little angels you save
stay strong yong man you are special and loved
Just to have this said – wasn’t it a bit of a DUMB move to write about this, before it’s been done, potentially sabotaging the mission? What if his superiors find out?
Awesome and inspiring story, Viktor. You have my chipin on this one also once my paypal reloads. Thanks for all you do!
Thank you Victor for your love and kindness to Atlas. He would have never had a chance without out you. Dear Atlas I pray your life will be long, healthy and happy. Again, thank you so much Victor!
It makes me sick to think soldiers’ training includes murder of helpless lives who only want to be loved. It makes me cry. THANKYOU to the soldier who did the right thing by a baby who needs help. That is a kind man.
though i’m egyptian but i hate what egyptians do espcially to stray dogs. i’ve saved like 4 or 5 stray dogs finding them ever lasting homes, but i really don’t know why they’re so heartless plp. :((((
forgive me Victor but he photo that you showed of our army, made me wana avenge them to the extent that i need to know where this photo was taken, so i could go there either to kill all those soilders or to save the stray family of dogs. i’m dreaming of making a city of dogs here in Egypt but sadly i have no money for that. :(((((( one day i’ll do my dream so that all stray dogs alover egypt would live a desent life.
thank you Victor and sorry for that photo.
Humbling story..this man risked his own safety to put this animal first. A tue soldier.who’s shown more courage than the whole army put together.
The practice of torturing animals in Egyptian army should be made very public, that is so disgusting. Only way to stop it is to make everyone aware of what’s going on.
I have a cat like atlas I thought he would have to be put to sleep but my vet helped remove one eye and has about 30% vision from the other he is amazing he learnt his name in 1 week and t minute I approach him he starts purring he is so so loving he plays with all the other rescue kittens we bring in and has a heart bigger then any human I know, the brave soldier that saved atlas should try and keep him as he will be his till the day he dies and he will show daily application I can assure him
I don’t see from that disgusting photo how those scum bags sickos inhumane monsters look “humilated and broken” to me. They look like souless hollow-brained no conscience un concerned skanks that don’t belong on this earth.
The despicable cruelty inflicted on that poor dog and her pups displays an act of true barbarity and cowardice. No-one with more than one brain cell could possibly think doing such a thing is proof of bravery. The thinking behind this, I would think, is to desensitise the ‘soldiers’, making it easier for them to kill other people. At one time, here in the UK, men training to be officers would be taken fox hunting with the specific purpose of training them to kill without thinking. As for the soldier who saved Atlas, he is a true man, one who isn’t afraid to do the right thing. His kind heart is his greatest strength.
Thank God for good decent men like Victor. I pray for your and Atlas safety and blessings on you both. As for the other picture…the lowest form of low…these are not men, they are cowards and if this is indicative of Egyptian soldiers, shame on them all….you have nothing to be proud of. There is no strength in cowardice and cruelty. All it takes is the sorriest, weakest lowest excuse for life to inflict such barbaric horrors on God’s innocent creatures. I pray you all answer for what you did to this beautiful dog and her babies….and others like them.
People often think of me as cold as I show little emotion, but when I first came across your facebookpage, I cried for like an hour. I cried for Biscuit, who has the most beautiful soul. I cried because I was so moved by the fact that there are such amazing people taking care of those sweet animals. It made me realize there are more important things in life than carreer achievement and owning fancy stuff. Wish there were more people like you… It makes me want to help them too. So that’s why I chipped in. I think you do great work and you deserve support. Thank you so much!
Thank you Britt… thank you.
Some stories help put things in perspective.. 🙁
REAL MEN DON’T TORTURE AND KILL INNOCENT ANIMALS!!!!!
ps chipped in a little x
i hope atlas gets treatment soon…m really shocked after reading abt egyptian army …i m egyptian n as far as i knew tht this kind of deeds r nt done to live animals..its first time i hear tht they kill animals in the army…m nt sure abt it but i pray it isnt true :((
this solders in egypt will take back what they have done…so miserable “PPLE” ARE MAKING DURTY OUR PLANET:THEY MUSNT EXIST!
Those inhumane unfeeling pieces of slime that killed the mother dog and puppies so cruely have no right to call them selves men or even human. They are subhuman scum. The man that saved the kitten is a true model of what men should be! I hope the kitten will be able to see some. If not he will still have a happy fulfilled life with love that is what is important!
Army training which involves the killing and violation of a dog family? How can we get the word out?! Is there a way to stop this? I don’t even know about this!
How could someone stand there smiling with a broken animal and feel like men. Broke my heart been crying for two days for the loss of the dogs and what further damage they will do not only to animals but humans!
Bless the soldier with a heart, Bless you all for saving this beautiful cat and bless the family with the furrever home for Atlas. To those other soldiers who were brutal God will deal with them!!!
Reunite Atlas with his soldier daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!